Lap machine



May 23, 1933. J; R N 1,910,107

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LAP MACHINE Filed Oct. 6, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 5 JJoraYan A TTORNEYS.

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May 23, 1933. 5 JORDAN 1,910,107

LAP MACHINE Filed Oct. 6, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORI A TTORNEYS.

- SAMUEL :r. JORDAN, or comnvnaus, anon Patented May 23, 1933 PATENT COMPANY, or MACON, GEORGIA, A conronmron or GEORGIA LAP MACHINE Application filed October 6, 1930. Serial No. 486,823.

In the preparation of textile fibre-cotton, wool, rayon and other batting material used in. the textile artpreliminary to carding and other treatment, the material is formed into a bat that is wound into a roll. For carding and other purposes the bat is drawn from the roll and is divided into predetermined lengths, or laps, which are weighed and otherwise measured so that the exact quantity of fibre required for a particular purpose can be obtained; also, asthe bat is drawn from the roll, pressure is applied to compact the fibre to increase the tenacity thereof so that the laps will withstand rough handling without breaking apart.

The object of the present invention is to provide a machine in which a roll of batting can be mounted and the machine operated to draw the batting from the roll. As the batting is drawn from the roll, means are provided for measuring the length of the bat so that it can be subsequently divided into laps of the required length. The means for measuring the length of'the batting includes two vertical pairs of rolls, relatively positioned so that the batting passes between the upper and lower rolls of each vertical pair. The rolls of each vertical pair are spaced closely together to compact the fibre passing therebetween. One vertical pair of rolls is driven from one side of the machine and the other pair from the opposite side. By employing two vertical pairs of rolls, driven from opposite ends, a smooth and even travel of the batting between the rolls is secured and a uniform density of the laps is obtained.

Heretofore, a single pair of rolls has been employed to measure and to compact the bat. In rolls so employed, there is more or less slip of the material between the rolls and inaccuracy in the measuring results therefrom. By employing the two pairs of rolls, slipping-of the material is practically prevented. In the single pair of rolls there is somelost motion, a torsion is imparted to the rolls by the driving mechanism and there is lack of exact parallel contact between the rolls, resulting in an unevenness in the compaoting of the batting. By employing two pairs of rolls and driving them from oppoe site ends, the lost motion, torsion and lack of parallel contact in one pair offset the opposite deficiencies inthe other pair, resulting in a more even compacting of the batting.

The invention has for a further object the provision of means for mounting the batting roll so that it can be 'rotated'to facilitate the withdrawal of the bat as it istaken up by the measuring and compacting rolls. This is accomplished by providing astand having supporting rolls for carrying the batting roll, means being'provided for rotating the supporting rolls to turn the batting roll to deliver the bat to the measuring rolls "atthe same rate of travel that is" given to the bat by the measuring rolls.

The means for carrying out theinvention are described in detail hereinafterfpointed out in theappended claims, and illustrated by the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts,

Figure l is a side elevation of a machine embodying the invention;

' Figure 2 is a similar view of the opposite side, the lap-receiving apron being removed.

Figure 3 is a front elevation, showing the fluted rolls and gearing for driving thesame.

Figure 4 is a rear elevation'of the machine, with parts removed.

Figure 5 is a detail plan view, showing-the fluted measuring rolls, the rolls for carrying the batting roll and the sprocket connection between the two sets of rolls.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view, showing a side elevation of the housing forzthe bearings at one end of the measuring'rolls.

Figure 7 is a detail view, showing the crown plate for housing.

Figures 8 and 9 are detail views, showing the bearing blocks for the measuring rolls.

Figures 10 and 11 are enlarged detail views, showing side and edge'views, respectively, of one of the stands forcarrying the batting roll.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the supporting frame of the machine comprises i the sides QO'held together in their proper rel- TIFFICEV GIA, Assrenoa TO Brien ivmnumicruninc ative positions by the tie-rods .21 passing through the same and through the spacing tubes 22 interposed between the side frames. Upon the upper rear parts of the side frames are mounted the opposite stands 23 for supporting the lap roll. These stands are of like construction and 24 bolted to the side frame. upper part of the base is having a vertical Bolted on the the upright 25 guide-way 26 for an end of the shaft 27 carrying the lap roll 28. Extending between the two stands are two wooden rolls 29 on which rests the lap roll 28. Each Wooden roll is fixed on. a shaft 30 journaled at its ends in the opposite stands in bearings formed by bushings 31 clamped between the meeting edges of the base 24 and the upri ht 2 50f each stand. On the ends of the shafts 30 of the wooden rolls on one side of the machine are the alined sprocket wheels 32 connected by the sprocket chain 33 passing over the idler 34 carried by the support 35 secured to the base 24 of the adjacent stand. The purpose of the idler is to guide the sprocket chain away from the lap roll. On the projecting end of oneof the shafts 30 is a sprocket wheel 36 engaged by the sprocket chain 37 driven by means hereinafter described. As' the sprocket wheel is rotated by the drive of the chain 37 "it rotates the shaft 30 on which it is mounted and the drive of this shaft is transmitted to the other shaft 30 by the chain 33 connecting the sprocket wheels 32. By this means the shafts 30 and wooden rolls 29 fixedthereon are rotated in the same direction at the same peripheral speed. The lap roll 28 rests on the wooden rolls with the ends of its shaft 27 registering with the vertical guideways 26 of the opposite stands 23. As the wooden rolls rotate, their frictional engagement with the lap'roll rotates the latter on its axis to facilitate the withdrawal of the lap from the roll by the measuring mechanism.

On the front upper parts of the side frames 20 are mounted the opposite housings 38, each of which comprises a base 39, uprights 40 and a cross-piece 41 detachably secured to the upper ends of the upri hts. In each of the housings 38 is seated a group of four bearing blocks 42. These bearing blocks are of a rectangular shape and are arranged in vertical and horizontal pairs in abutting relation. At the inner vertical edge of each block is a flange 43 to engage the inner side of the housing to prevent outward movement of the blocks in the housing. Extending through the cross-piece 41 are the set-screws 45 and interposed between the latter and the upper blocks are the coiled springs 46. The springs are compressed by the set-screws and bearing on the two upper blocks, normally tend to press both pairs of blocks downward in the housing.

each comprises a base- Extending between the opposite housings 38 are four fluted steel rolls 47,. 48, 49 and 50 having journals at their ends engaging bearings in the opposite blocks 42. The rolls are arranged in vertical pairs, the rolls 47 48 constituting one pair and the rolls 4950 the other pair. The rolls in each vertical pair are forced toward each other along their peripheries by the springs 46 pressing on the blocks 42 carrying the upper roll of each pair. The arrangement of the rolls is such that a horizontal plane includes the lines of contact of both pairs of rolls. The journals at the ends of the rolls 47-48 of the front vertical pair project outside of the housing 38 on one side of the machine and on theproj ecting ends are the like gears 51 (Fig. 5) meshing together to drivethe two rolls in unison. Likewise the journals of the rolls 49-50 of the rear vertical pair project beyond the housing on the other side frame and on these projecting ends are like meshing gears 52 to drive these two rolls inunison. The gears 51 and 52 are'also of the same dimensions and all the rolls are driven at the same peripheralspeed by means described further on.

Mechanism is provided for rotating-the measuring rolls 4750 and also the wooden rolls 29 for carrying the lap roll. At one side of the machine (Figs, 3-and' 5) the journal of the lower roll 50 of the rear vertical pair 495O projects beyond the gear 52 thereon and forms the extension shaft 53. On this extension shaft is fixed the pinion 54 meshingwith the bull gear 55 (Fi 2) keyed on one end of the main shaft 56-journaled at its end in bearings 57 mounted in the side frames 20. On the otherend of the main shaft 56 is keyed a similar bull gear 58 '(Fig. 1) meshing with a pinion 59 fixed on the extension shaft 60 of the ournal of the lower fluted roll 48 of the front or outer vertical pair-47-48 of the-measuring rolls. By means of the gearing thus described, when the main shaft is driven the measuring rolls 4 75O are positively -rotated. As one pair of measuring rolls is driven from one side of the machine and the other pair from the other sideof the machine, the drive of two pairs isbalanced, thereby insuring a regular feed of the fabric between the two pairs of measuring rolls.

On the extension shaft 53 of the lower measuring roll 50 of the rear vertical pair of rolls 49-50 is fixed the sprocket wheel 61 outside of the pinion 54 (Figs; 3 and 5),

over which leads the sprocket chain 37 to the sprocket wheel 36 fixed on an extension of the-shaft 30 of the front'wooden roll 29. By means of this sprocket connection, the

drive of the measuring roll 50 is transmitted tothe wooden rolls 29 to rotatetheilatter, as previously described.

Meansare provided for rotating theimain shaft 56. Extending across the rear part of the machine is the driving shaft 62 (Figs. 4-5) journaled at its ends in the bearings 63 mounted in the side frames 20. On an end of the driving shaft are the fast and loose pulleys 64 of usual construction to receive a belt (not shown) suitably driven. On the shaft is fixed the spur-gear 65 engaging the bull gear 58. The drive of the shaft 62 is transmitted through the spur-gear 65 to the shaft 56 to rotate the bull gears 55 and 58, which in turn, through engagement with the pinions 54 and 59, respectively, rotate the lower fluted rolls 48 and 50. The meshing gears 51 on the shafts of the front vertical pair of rolls 47-48 rotate these two rolls in unison, and the meshing gears 52 on the shafts of the rear vertical pair of rolls 49-50 rotate these rolls in unison. The drive of the shaft of the lower roll 50 of the rear pair of vertical rolls 49-50 is transmitted through the extension 53 of the shaft to the sprocket wheel 61 thereon and through the sprocket chain 37 to the sprocket wheel 36 to drive the wooden rolls 29, as previously described.

Between the stands 23 carrying the roll of batting 28 and the housings 38 for the measuring rolls 47 50. is the guide table 66 for leading the end of the batting from the roll 28 to the rear vertical pair of measuring rolls 47-50, to be engaged thereby. Mounted on the front part of the frame 20 is the apron 67 to receive the batting as it is delivered by the front vertical pair of measuring rolls 47-48. As the batting leaves the rolls 47-48 it is cut into laps of the required length. As the rolls 47-50 rotate they actuate a rotation counter (not shown) in common use. A suitable counter is disclosed in Patent No. 1,659,380, of February 14, 1928. Such a counter connected with the shaft of one of the rolls 47-50, would register the number of rotations of the roll and as the circumference of the roll is known, say half a yard, the length of the batting passing the roll is measured and the laps can be out to the desired lengths.

In the operation of the machine the roll of batting 28 is placed between the uprights 25, with the shaft 27 engaging the guideways 26, and the batting roll resting on the rollers 29. When the machine is put in motion, the rotation of the rollers 29 by their frictional engagement with the roll 28, revolves the latter to unwind the layer of batting. The end of the batting is guided along the table 66 and is led between the vertical pair of fluted rolls 49-50 and thence through the other vertical pair of fluted rolls 47-48. The fluted rolls firmly engage the batting with a resilient pressure exerted by the springs 46. The peripheral speed of the rolls 47-50 is the same as that of the rolls 29, so that the feed of the batting is the same by both sets of rolls. As the batting passes between the fluted rolls 49-50 and 47-48, the fibre is compressed to a uniform thickness and is matted to impart a degree of tensile strength. to the batting so that the laps can be handled without separation of the fibre. As the batting with the two pinions at opposite ends of the I roll pairs, opposite bull gears respectively engaging the opposite pinions, and a driven shaft on which are mounted the bull gears; and means for feeding batting to the vertical pairs of rolls to be successively engaged thereby.

2. In a lap machine, the combination of a frame, with opposite housings mounted on the frame, rectangular bearing blocks mounted in each housing, measuring rolls mounted bet-ween. the housings with their ends journaled in the bearing blocks, said rolis bemgarranged in vertical palrs, meshing gears connectmg the rolls of each pair,

compression springs mounted in the housings to press on the bearing blocks of the upper roll of each vertical pair, a pinion on the lower roll of each vertical pair, a

bull gear engaging each pinion, a. shaft journaled in the frame and carrying the bull gears fixed thereon, and means for rotating the shaft to drive the measuring rolls through the intervening mechanism. Y

3. In a lap machine, the combination of a set of parallel measuring rolls arranged in two vertical pairs with the rolls of each pair coacting to engage batting fed thereto, with gearing for driving both pairs of rolls at uniform speed, said gearing including a pinion fixed on one of the rolls of one pair on one side of the machine and a second pinion fixed on one of the rolls of the other pair on the other side of the machine, a driven shaft and speed reducing gears for transmitting the drive of the shaft to the opposite pinions, and means for feeding batting to the vertical pairs of rolls to be successively engaged thereby.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. SAMUEL J JORDAN. 

